sociology Flashcards
What is a status set?
A collection of statuses that every person has.
What are the three categories of status?
- Ascribed Status
- Achieved Status
- Master Status
Define ascribed status.
A status gained at birth, including biological sex, gender, race, and ethnicity.
Define achieved status.
A status earned as one grows, which can be both positive and negative.
What is master status?
A status that overrides all other statuses and can be both achieved and ascribed.
Who created the concept of anomie?
Émile Durkheim.
What is anomie?
The sense of normlessness that occurs when a society’s previous norms disappear or disintegrate.
How can anomie affect individuals?
It can lead individuals to become disconnected from their culture and may result in anomic suicide.
Who applied Durkheim’s theory to structural strain theory?
Robert Merton.
What is structural strain theory based on?
An individual’s ability to achieve economic success through accepted means.
List the five types of individuals in structural strain theory.
- Conformists
- Innovators
- Ritualists
- Retreatists
- Rebels
Define agency in sociology.
An individual’s free will and ability to act independently within a society.
Define structure in sociology.
The institutions and social structures that impact an individual’s actions.
What does classical theory focus on?
Structure or ‘holism’.
What do contemporary theories focus on?
Individualism or the agency of those within a society.
